Editorial
Pay the school feeding caterers

●Concerns of the caterers should be addressed quickly
Dear Editor,
I am writing to add my voice to the concerns of the School Feeding Caterers who have declared a strike over the delay in payment for services they had rendered.
The caterers, mostly women, have also asked for an increase in the school feeding grant from 0.97 pesewas to 3.5 pesewas but their calls seem to be falling on deaf ears.
I have been listening to some of the caterers early this week and I must say their situation and that of the affected pupils in public basic schools is pathetic.
Clearly, the government is facing financial challenges hence the inability to fulfil its financial obligations to the school feeding service providers. But I believe the situation could be handled carefully so that the caterers do not feel they are being taken for granted.
Considering that the school programme is one of government’s flagship programmes which, among other things, is aimed at increasing enrollment and retaining pupils on schools, the government should be able to prioritise the needs of working within the sector.
Some of the caterers say they owe their suppliers due to the delay in the release of funds, hence their inability to continue serving the pupils. This is a sad commentary on a programme the government takes so much pride in.
I urge the government to take urgent steps to address the challenges as quickly as possible. But if the government, in any case, wants to scrap the programme, then it must be said in plain language and stop playing hide and seek with the caterers.
Paul Kwame Koranteng,
Suhum, Eastern Region
Editorial
Unhygienic food selling environment: A serious concern that must be addressed

Dear Editor,
It is often said that a healthy nation is a wealthy nation. However, this saying becomes worrying when the health of citizens is threatened by the conditions under which the food they consume daily is sold.
In Ghana, the conditions under which food is sold is quite disturbing. Over the years, I have observed that the environments where food is prepared and sold are often unhygienic.
In many cases, containers holding food such as rice and waakye are left uncovered or not properly covered, exposing them to contamination.
While many Ghanaians paid little attention in the past to the conditions under which food was sold, the narrative seems to be changing in recent years.
I recall an incident during my days in Senior High School (S.H.S.) when my friends and I went out to buy food. At one location, some of us chose not to buy because we assumed the food would be expensive due to how neat the place looked.
Unfortunately, we ended up purchasing food from a different place that was somewhat unhygienic. We overlooked the poor conditions because we believed the quantity offered was better than at the cleaner location.
However, I am certain that my friends and I would not repeat such a mistake today, as we now understand the health implications of that decision.
While public education is important in addressing this issue, I believe it is time for regulatory and law enforcement agencies, such as the Food and Drug Authority (FDA), to crack the whip on food sellers and vendors who operate in unhygienic environments and conditions.
As citizens, we must also be mindful of where we buy our food to protect ourselves and our families from diseases and illnesses. We should choose ‘quality’ over ‘quantity’ and prioritize our health.
From Syram
Oyarifa
Editorial
Provide adequate protection for footballers
Dear Editor,
I write to express concern and call for improved security measures before and after every football match.
The recent robbery attack that led to the tragic death of a player, on their return from a Match day 29 game against Samartex, is both shocking and heartbreaking.
The incident, which reportedly occurred around 10:30 p.m., highlights the growing risks faced by players and team officials while traveling.
Football is meant to unite and entertain, not to expose lives to danger. It is therefore imperative that authorities, the Ghana Football Association, and security agencies put in place adequate protection for teams, especially during late-night travels.
I strongly urge all stakeholders to treat this matter with urgency to prevent such unfortunate incidents from recurring.
From Eugene Ampiaw
Accra
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